Week 5 Target Watch: Antonio Brown Sees 19 Targets

The Week 5 target watch shows a number of pass catchers who are used to making this list. While Weeks 3 and 4 still had more players with double-digit targets, a drop is to be expected with four teams on a bye.

By Week 5, Fantasy owners should begin to see patterns in who is getting the ball. Targets are a sign that the quarterback trusts his pass catchers. Trust is the first step in getting the ball, which is what Fantasy owners hope for.

In looking at the top target leaders each week, wide receivers will typically dominate the list. However, a handful of tight ends and even a running back also make the list. For those in PPR formats (or those that play DFS which awards points for receptions), these are players to monitor.

Targets do not always translate into Fantasy points; the player has to catch the ball for that, obviously. But the targets are usually an indicator that the points will come.

Please note none of the charts below show total receptions, total fantasy points or touchdowns. The sole purpose of this analysis is to look at targets.

Week 5 Target Watch

Each week I will be reviewing the targets from the past week, the season and even digging deeper by running back and tight end. I will also be analyzing any trends I find along the way.

Week 5 Double-Digit Targets

Player

Team

Targets

Antonio Brown

Pittsburgh Steelers

19

A.J. Green

Cincinnati Bengals

13

Zach Ertz

Philadelphia Eagles

12

Keenan Allen *

Los Angeles Chargers

12

DeAndre Hopkins *

Houston Texans

12

Pierre Garcon

San Francisco 49ers

11

Chris Hogan

New England Patriots

11

Marquise Goodwin

San Francisco 49ers

11

Davante Adams

Green Bay Packers

11

Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs

11

Larry Fitzgerald

Arizona Cardinals

10

Jason Witten

Dallas Cowboys

10

Le’Veon Bell

Pittsburgh Steelers

10

Andre Ellington *

Arizona Cardinals

10

Jarvis Landry

Miami Dolphins

10

A trend seems to be emerging: only three players continue the trend of double-digit targets from week to week. Andre Ellington keeps making the list as a running back, which PPR owners enjoy. As Deshaun Watson keeps having success, so do his receivers. Will Fuller helps spread the field (and score touchdowns) but DeAndre Hopkins is the target leader.

As for surprises on this list, Marquise Goodwin was questionable coming into Week 5. Likely not started in most fantasy leagues, he caught five of his 11 targets for 115 yards. Pierre Garcon also had 11 targets (and he caught eight of them for 94 yards). Garcon is still the wide receiver on the 49ers to own as Goodwin likely won’t repeat his Week 5 success.

Top 10 Target Leaders

Player

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Total

Antonio Brown, PIT

11

11

14

9

19

64

DeAndre Hopkins, HOU

16

13

8

12

12

61

Keenan Allen, LAC

10

10

9

11

12

52

Larry Fitzgerald, ARI

13

6

15

7

10

51

A.J. Green, CIN

10

8

13

7

13

51

Dez Bryant, DAL

9

16

2

13

8

48

Zach Ertz, PHI

8

10

10

8

12

48

Pierre Garcon, SF

10

5

10

8

11

44

Jarvis Landry, MIA

BYE

15

11

7

10

43

Odell Beckham, Jr., NYG

0

5

13

15

8

41

Even with zero targets in Week 1, Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham, Jr. are in the Top 10 for targets this season. While Beckham will fall from this list next week as he is on the I.R., this does prove that Landry is still a viable Fantasy option in PPR formats. He has one touchdown on the year, but he hasn’t had a game with less than five receptions. The Miami Dolphins offense has struggled, but if Jay Cutler can pull it together, Landry has WR1 potential in PPR leagues.

Top Tight End Targets In Week 5

Zach Ertz *

Philadelphia Eagles

12

Travis Kelce*

Kansas City Chiefs

11

Jason Witten

Dallas Cowboys

10

Cameron Brate

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

9

Kyle Rudolph

Minnesota Vikings

9

George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers

9

Zach Ertz has made it a perfect five for five in terms of being on the list of top tight end targets. He is seventh in the league, for all positions, in terms of targets. Carson Wentz loves throwing to him, and he’s responded. He’s an every-week TE1.

Jason Witten, Kyle Rudolph and George Kittle make this list, but weekly production cannot be counted on from those players. However, Cameron Brate has scored a touchdown in each of the past three games. Jameis Winston uses him in the red zone and he’s going to continue to be a TE1.

Top Running Back Targets In Week 5

Andre Ellington *

Arizona Cardinals

10

Le’Veon Bell

Pittsburgh Steelers

10

LeSean McCoy

Buffalo Bills

9

James White

New England Patriots

9

Melvin Gordon

Los Angeles Chargers

8

For the third week in a row, Andre Ellington makes this list. Even with the addition of Adrian Peterson, Ellington still remains a high RB2 in PPR formats. In terms of rushing, he had one carry for negative yards in Week 5. However, as a pass-catcher, he had nine receptions for 65 yards. Each week he seems to catch a large percentage of targets. The Cardinals have yet to establish a running game, but the short passes seem to work well for Ellington.

Sarah Lewis (formerly Sarah Bojarski) once spent an entire cocktail hour at a wedding reception answering Fantasy Football start/sit questions on Twitter. She has been writing about Fantasy Football for five seasons now, and is always willing to talk draft strategy with anyone looking to win their league. Follow her on Twitter @Sarah_Lewis32

Sarah Lewis (formerly Sarah Bojarski) once spent an entire cocktail hour at a wedding reception answering Fantasy Football start/sit questions on Twitter. She has been writing about Fantasy Football for five seasons now, and is always willing to talk draft strategy with anyone looking to win their league. Follow her on Twitter @Sarah_Lewis32